HR 5777

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 17, 2025

Mrs. McClain Delaney (for herself, Mr. Moulton, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Craig, Mr. Landsman, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Subramanyam, Mr. Carson, and Ms. Lofgren) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

A BILL

To amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse certain expenses during a period in which there is a lapse in appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “National Fire Academy Reimbursement for Emergency Service Course Unavailability and Expenses Act” or the “National Fire Academy RESCUE Act”.

SEC. 2. REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN EXPENSES DURING A LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.

(a) Reimbursement of Certain Expenses.—Section 7 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:

“(n) Reimbursement of Certain Expenses.—

“(1) In general.—With respect to a covered course or activity that is cancelled during a period in which there is a lapse in appropriations, or as a result of such a lapse, for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator of FEMA, subject to paragraph (2), shall reimburse a fire department for any covered expense related to such covered course or activity not later than 90 days after the later of—

“(A) the date such period ends, if applicable; or

“(B) the date the Administrator of FEMA receives an itemization under paragraph (3) from such fire department relating to such covered course or activity.

“(2) Good cause.—A reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a covered course or activity that is cancelled if such covered course or activity is cancelled for good cause.

“(3) Itemization of expenses.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which a lapse in appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency ends, the fire chief or other appropriate head of a fire department affected by a covered course or activity that is cancelled during any such period, or as a result of any such lapse, may submit to the Administrator of FEMA an application for reimbursement that includes an itemization of each covered expense incurred by such fire department.

“(4) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Backfill expense.—The term ‘backfill expense’ means an expense incurred for the following:

“(i) Staffing adjustments.

“(ii) Overtime compensation.

“(B) Covered course or activity.—The term ‘covered course or activity’ means—

“(i) a course or program that is offered by the Academy—

“(I) in-person and on-campus;

“(II) in-person and off-campus; or

“(III) through synchronous or asynchronous virtual instruction; or

“(ii) a conference or symposium that is offered by the Academy in-person and on-campus.

“(C) Covered expense.—The term ‘covered expense’ means any expense that a fire department incurred for the planned participation of the personnel of such fire department in a covered course or activity, including the following:

“(i) Any travel expense.

“(ii) Any backfill expense.

“(D) Good cause.—The term ‘good cause’ includes the following:

“(i) The closure of a facility of the Academy for any reason other than a lapse in appropriations.

“(ii) The illness or unavailability of an instructor of the Academy.

“(iii) A national emergency that impedes access to a facility of the Academy by a student or faculty member of the Academy.”. <all>